THE countdown has officially began for the maiden edition of the Regal Film Festival and Awards (REFFA), set to culminate in a dazzling Awards Night today at the Palms Convention Centre, at the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel in Accra.

Anticipation is high as the brightest talents from the African and Diaspora film industries prepare to walk the red carpet for an evening of celebrating cinematic excellence and ground-breaking storytelling. The special guest of honour is the President, John Dramani Mahama.

The REFFA Awards, a new and exceptionally prestigious awards scheme, is dedicated to honouring outstanding achievements in filmmaking across Africa and its global diaspora. This year’s edition, the maiden, has already captured international attention, having received over 121 film entries from 21 countries.

Following a rigorous screening process, the official nomination list was unveiled last month, featuring 112 nominees in 23 categories set to compete across various categories, including Best Feature Film, Best Documentary, Best Actor/Actress in a Leading Role, and Achievement in Cinematography.

The 2025 REFFA nominees represent the finest creative voices currently redefining African cinema. Industry professionals, including established directors, rising stars, and celebrated technical artists, will gather to see who takes home the coveted trophies.

Key categories feature tight competition, highlighting films like RISE (Zimbabwe) and Murder In Mind (Ghana) for Best Short Film, and actors such as Ikechukwu Onunaku (Nigeria) and Roselyn Ngissah (Ghana) vying for individual accolades. “We are proud of the calibre of films submitted this year—works that tell authentic African stories with creativity and technical depth. The diversity of voices and themes demonstrates how far our continent’s film industry has evolved,” Selassie Ibrahim, Executive Director, REFFA noted.

The awards night will be preceded by a 3-day film festival which will start on December 10 to 12, 2025. There will be perfomances from Sonnie Badu, Diana Hamilton, Empress Gifty, King Promise, Kizz Daniel, Parrot Mouth, Kwan Pa band and Patchbay Band.

The Regal Film Festival and Awards promises to be an unforgettable night of recognition, inspiration, and celebration.